Toyota pickup will tow space shuttle Endeavour to museum

Toyota has arranged to have one of its pickup trucks tow the space shuttle Endeavour through the streets of Los Angeles on the last leg of its journey to a museum.

Toyota says its full-size Tundra pickup truck will tow the retiring Endeavour on the final quarter-mile stretch on its way to permanent display at the California Science Center in Exposition Park, just south of downtown Los Angeles. The pickup will pull it down Bill Robertson Lane inside the park perimeter on Oct. 13 to a "finish line," followed by a big party.

But that job will only come after Endeavour had already been towed about 12 miles from Los Angeles International Airport to the area near the museum site. Preparations are already underway for the spectacle.

Endeavour weighs 300,000 pounds, Toyota says. The automaker plans to use a Tundra CrewMax half-ton pickup with a hulking 5.7-liter V-8 engine. Normally, it's maximum towing capacity is limited to 10,000 pounds.

Toyota says it has done extensive testing and worked with The Sarens Group, a heavy lifting and engineered transport company, to develop a dolly specifically for hauling the Endeavour.

-Courtesy of USA Today

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Car Review: Some tweaks, but Prius is still an awesome hybrid

Hello 2012 Toyota Prius. If you are in the market for the quintessential hybrid then look no further. Just as it has in past years, this year’s Prius adds a Plus Performance accessory package, and the handling is much more incisive with a sportier edge.

In its third generation now, the 2012 Toyota Prius also has undergone minor design changes with the possibility of power front seats.

Other hybrids up against the Prius include the Ford Fusion Hybrid and even the Toyota Camry Hybrid, a bit of a step up.

Trims for the 2012 Toyota Prius include the four-door hatchback available in the Two, Three, Four, and Five.

On the Prius Two, expect 15-inch alloy wheels, heated power mirrors, a rear window wiper, keyless ignition and entry, cruise control, automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, height-adjustable driver seat, and a 60/40-split-folding rear seat along with a variety of techno and audio additions.

The Prius Three adds to that impressive list an enhanced keyless entry, rearview camera, navigation system, voice controls, satellite radio, and Toyota's Entune system with real-time traffic, weather and fuel prices. You can also opt for the Solar Roof package with a sunroof and solar-powered ventilation system, making it easier on the Prius’ air-conditioning.

On the Prius Four, there are automatic headlights, an eight-way power driver seat, heated front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and you can add the Deluxe Solar Roof package with all the Prius Three Solar Roof extras and a head-up display, Safety Connect emergency communications, and high-definition navigation system.

With the top-of-the-line Prius Five, you get 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps and LED headlamps with auto level control and washers. For this one you might consider the Advanced Technology package with adaptive cruise control, pre-collision alert system and a lane-departure warning system.

The Plus Appearance package can be had on all the trims as an extra with 17-inch alloy wheels, a seven-piece aerodynamic body kit and sport-tuned suspension.

Under the hood the 2012 Toyota Prius has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motor/generators. You also get 134 horsepower with a continuously variable transmission.

Toyota’s safety additions to the Prius are antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front side, side curtain, and a driver knee airbag. On the Prius Four and Five, you can opt for the Safety Connect emergency communications system while the Prius Five comes with a pre-collision and lane-departure warning system.

Inside, the Prius is pretty easy to figure out, with controls that are driver-friendly and easy to use. Of course there is also the touchscreen with added techie features for 2012, and all is designed appropriately for easy use.

Expect plenty of cargo room, thanks to the hatchback style. Backseat passengers will be happy too with the amount of space offered.

Overall, driving the 2012 Toyota Prius feels good thanks to its easy handling and owning the road with four driving options — Normal, Eco, Power and EV — to thinking about the environment as well.

Also one to watch is the Prius C since it is a subcompact hatchback, which drives more like a vehicle that is not quite so hybrid happy.

Should You Need to Know: Great fuel economy on this one and there is a lot of room with fun techno goodies to play with, making this an all around good choice.

Miles Per Gallon: The Prius offers lots of variety. I drove the Prius C with 53 miles per gallon in the city and 46 miles per gallon on the highway.

-Courtesy of the Washington Times

Toyota platform will beam drive data to phones, re-create drives on Gran Turismo

Toyota is developing a new device for its cars that will collect detailed data on driving such as gas pedal use, brake presses, and gear shifts for viewing on a smartphone app or recreating drives virtually on the PlayStation game Gran Turismo.

The system is still in early development and is slated for initial release on a single sports car late next year in Japan, though Toyota hopes to release it worldwide after that, according to spokesman Dion Corbett. It collects data from the dozens of onboard computer systems, known as electronic control units, or ECUs, that run everything from the engine to the air conditioner in a modern car, then sends it via Bluetooth to a smartphone or stores it on a USB memory stick for future review or sharing.

"Other people will be able to look at your performance and say, 'You took the corner too early, you should have taken this kind of line on that course,'" Corbett said.

The company said it will eventually open the platform up to third-party software developers, allowing them to create apps around real-time driving data obtained from its cars. Such data has long been available to mechanics and technicians using specialized equipment, but Toyota is opening it up to everyday drivers using the Bluetooth and USB interfaces.

Toyota is working on functionality that will allow driving data recorded on major Japanese racing tracks such as its own Fuji Speedway to be imported into Gran Turismo and recreated virtually in the game. Private drivers can pay for driving time on many such tracks.

Initially the device, called the CAN-Gateway ECU, or Controller Area Network-Gateway Electronic Control Unit, will be tested by race car drivers early next year, then released for initial use with Toyota's "86" sports car toward the end of the year. All modern vehicles use ECUs that communicate over a central CAN, so expanding the system to other vehicles is not a big technical challenge.

Dion said that while other car companies have announced similar systems, Toyota's is the first that can log data to USB memory and collect GPS and gyro input.

The device was developed by Toyota together with Denso, one of the carmaker's group companies and a major global manufacturer of automotive components.

-Courtest of PC World

Prius C is first hybrid in Toyota's College Grad rebate program

The new compact hybrid from Toyota is the first hybrid to be added to the Japanese automaker's College Grad Rebate Program, which offers $1,000 off for buyers of lessees of the model.

Toyota Financial Services recently added the Prius C to the list of models that so far includes the Corolla, Matrix, RAV4 and Yaris. New buyers who use the program can also benefit from no money down and no payments for three months. All qualifiers have to do is show proof of graduation within the past two years or within the next six months – oh, and proof of a job.

The Prius C, which gets a combined 50 miles per gallon, has accounted for about third of all Prius models sold in the U.S. since being introduced this spring.

For more information and to see if you qualify, visit Lakewood Toyota in person on on the web: http://www.lakewoodtoyota.com/

2012 Toyota Prius Five Review

At first glance, it appears that the 2012 Toyota Prius hasn’t changed much and there isn’t really much new to report with the Japanese hybrid. But after inspecting the four-door sedan further, there are a number of changes that have been made to the third-generation car. We first need to look at the current market and where the first hybrid vehicle is today.

The Toyota Prius made its launch 15 years ago and continues to be the best-selling hybrid in the world. It continues to lead the pack with its 50 mpg combined fuel economy rating as the most fuel-efficient gas-powered passenger car available in the U.S. today.

It’s a bit of a surprise, but the EPA considers the Prius to be a midsize car, and the five-passenger sedan is so practical, it is used as a taxi in many cities around the globe. And since 2000, Toyota has sold over one million Prius models in the U.S. It’s hard to argue with the kind of success that Toyota has had with the Prius.

New upgrades for 2012

For 2012, the five-passenger hybrid gets a number of upgrades. Outside, the new Prius gets a minor refresh with updated headlamps and tail lamps, plus a new front fascia and bumper. While we are testing the Prius Five, the other models also get updates for 2012.

The Prius Two adds new 15-inch wheel covers and standard LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL). The Prius Three now features a standard three-door Smart Key entry system, and the Prius Four gets standard auto on/off headlamps. The Prius Four also adds new SofTex-trimmed seats and an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat.

New Technology inside

The biggest news for the 2012 Prius is the audio/infotainment system that has been added to the Prius Two, Three and Four models. The Prius Two, features a new 6.1-inch touch-screen system with an AM/FM CD player unit that offers MP3/WMA playback capability with six speakers, a USB port for iPodconnectivity, auxiliary input jack, Bluetooth and audio streaming. Toyota says the display also provides vehicle information and allows the driver to customize vehicle settings.

The top-of-the-line Prius Five that we are testing this week came with the optional Advanced Technology Package. It includes the Premium HDD Navigation System, Head-up Display, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System and Lane Keep Assist. The Pre-Collision System retracts the front seatbelts and applies the brakes when the sensors determine that a crash is unavoidable. Although a bit annoying, the Lane Keep Assist can help the driver stay within the lane.

A Prius Sport Package

One notable option on the 2012 Prius includes a PLUS Performance accessory package that gives the Prius a sporty demeanor with better handling. The package comes from Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and starts with a seven-piece aerodynamic kit that gives the Prius an aggressive and lower-profile stance. The body kit also reduces the hybrid’s coefficient of drag, but no figures have been released as to any increase in fuel mileage.

The sport package also includes lightweight seventeen-inch forged alloy wheels that are wrapped with low profile 215/45R17 tires with a custom offset which increases track width for better stability at high speeds. The ride height is lowered by using track-tuned lowering springs which lower the vehicle 1.1 inches in the front and 1.3 inches in the rear. The overall effect of the sport package enhances steering response and improves the cornering ability. A tuned rear sway bar is added to reduce body lean for flatter cornering.

While the 2012 Toyota Prius would never be considered a sports sedan, the PLUS Performance package would certainly help give the hybrid a sporty feel. What hasn’t changed, is the Prius is still powered by the fuel-efficient 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine coupled to an electric motor for a combined output of 134 horsepower. The 2012 Toyota Prius gets an EPA estimated 51/48 city/highway fuel mileage rating.

Along with its fuel efficiency, four-door hatch practicality, and now additional technology and upgrades, consumers have more reasons to buy the popular hybrid.

-Courtesy of AutomoBlog.net